Gas production



May 5, 1931..

c. w. ANDREWS 1,803,686

GAS PRODUCTION Filed Nov. 23, 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 y 5, 1931. c. w. ANDREWS 1.803.686

GAS PRODUCTION Filed Nov. 23, 1923v 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 7 fMM www May 5, 1931. c. w. ANDREWS 1,803,686

GAS PRODUCTION Filed Ncv. 23, 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 May 5, 1931. c. w. ANDREWS GAS PRODUCTION Filed Nov. 23, 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet. 4

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Patented May 5, 1931 UNITElSbTATES PATENT OFFICE CHARLES W. ANDREWS, OF DULUTH, MIHNESOTA, ASSIGNOB OF ONE-HALF TO HERMAN A. BRASSER'I', OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS eas raonuccrron Application filed November 23, 1923. Serial No. 676,473.

This invention relatesto a new and improved method and apparatus for gas production and enrichment and more particularly to a method and apparatus particu- 'larly adapted for the enrichment of blast high temperaturesand in large quantities in Blast furnace gases, although produced at the operation of blast furnaces, are not sat- I ,paratus adapted for such gas enrichment isfactorily adapted for many metallurgical purposes due to their relatively low calorific value. ,While specific reference is made to blast furnace gas, the process is adapted for use with other like gases having a carbon dioxide content which may be reduced to carbon monoxide. Such gases are the products of combustion from lime kilns, ore reducing furnaces, heating furnaces used in metallurgical work and other similar furnaces. K

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved method and apparatus adapted for the enrichment of blast furnace gases or the like. It is a further objct to provide a method and means of this character adapted to enrich the blast furnace gas not only by breaking down the CO2 to CO but also by enriching the gas with coal gas, water gas, oil, tar, or any combination of such enriching medlums.

It is also an ob ect to provide an apparatus and method adapted for this purpose by the use of bituminous coal as the enriching agent,

the coal being prevented from massing together by means of stirrin mechanism and" being prevented from clin erilig by a two zone method of operation.

It "is an additional object to provide an apparatus adapted to be operated to enrich the gas by complete gasification of the fuel or by partial gasificatlon and the production of coke if so desired.

It is a further object. to provide an apwhich apparatus is also adapted for the independent production of either producer gas or water gas or both,

Other and further objects will appear as the description proceeds.

I have illustrated certain preferred em bodiments of my invention in the accompanying drawings, in-whichz lgure 1 is an elevation, partly in section, showing one form of apparatus adapted for carrying out my method;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the form of apparatus shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a horizontal section taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1; V

Figure 4 is a fragmentary elevation showing modified form of construction;

igure 5 is a vertical section through a modified form of apparatus;v

Figure dis a plan view of the form of construction shown in Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a horizontal section taken on line 77 of Figure 5; and

Figure 8 is a fragmentary section taken on line 88 of Figure 7. Referring first to the form' of construction shown in Figures 1 to 3, the blast furnace or other gas intake passage 11 divides into the two assages 12 and 13 controlled by valves 14 and 15, respectively. These two passages lead to the stacks 16 and 17 of the regenerators 18 and 19. The stacks 16 and 17 are controlled by valves 20 and 21. The regenerators 18 and 19 are provided at their lower ends with the passages 22 and 23 which join to form passage 24 which leads to the vertical uptake 25. This uptake 25 discharges under the mushroom head 26 into the bottom of the gas unit 27. The mushroom head 26 is hollow and is connected to pipe 28 through which air, steam or water may be introduced. The passages 48 and 49, controlled by valves 50 and 51, enter the Y-passage 22 adjacent the regenerator 18. The passage 48 is adapte ed for the introduction of'air and the passage 49 for the introduction of steam. The similar passages 52 and 53, controlled v valves 54 and 55, enter the opposite passage 23. p

The pan 29 constitutes the bottom of the unit 27' and is provided with. the ash discharge passage 30 controlled by valve 31.. The rotating member 32, as best shown in' Figure 3, is provided with the circular rack 33 driven by pinion 34, this pinion being driven by any suitable source of power. The member 32 is provided with the vanes 35 which serve to thrust the ash outwardly to-- drical wall 40 and are connected at their.

outer ends to the bustle pipe 43. The bustle pipe 43 has connected thereto the passages 44 and 45, controlled by valves 46 and 47, respectively. These passages are adapted to upply air and steam to the bustle pipe respectively.

The upper portion of the gas unit 27 is shown as havlng a fire-brick wall 56 surrounded by a metal shell 57. The upper end of the unit is provided with the fuel intake passage 58 and carries the mechanism 59 adapted to rotate the'stirrer 60 whereby the fuel bed may be agitated. The passage 61 leads from the up er end of the gas unit to the waste heat bo1ler62 and economizer 63. The gases are carried from the economizer 63 through the passage 64 to any gas using or gas holding apparatus.

Figure 4 shows a modified construction of the lower side walls of the gas unit. In this form of construction these Walls 65 are formed of brick work and are cooled by the water-cooled plates 66 which are similar to the bosh plates now in common use in blast furnaces.

Referring now to the form of construction shown in Figures 5 to 8, the gas unit 68 is located above the regenerator 69. As best shown in Figure 6, the gas intake passage 70 is divided and enters the right end of the regenerator through passage 71 and the left end of the regenerator through passage 72. ,The passage'70 is controlled by valve 73. passage 71 by valve 74 and passage 72 by valve 75. The discharge stack 76 leads upwardly from passage 71 and is provided with valve 77'. A similar stack '7 8 provided with valve 79 leads upwardly from-the passage 72 adjacent the left end of the regenerator.

- The regenerator is provided with the central wall 80 having therein the two seriesof passages 81 and 82. The passages 81 which open to the left are fed from the'air header 83, controlled by valve 84, and the passages 82am fed from air header 85, controlled by 'valve861. The passage 87 connects the regenerator and the gas unit and discharges under the mushroom head 88. This mushroom head 88 is hollow and is connected with passages 89 through which air, steam or water may be introduced.

This gas unit 68 is similar in general construction to that shown in Figure 1 and is provided with the tuyeres 90 connected to the bustle pipe 91. The bustle pipe 91 has connected thereto the two passages104 and 105, controlled by valves 106 and 107, these passages being adapted to introduce air and steam into the bustle pipe respectively. The gas unit is also provided with the stirrer 92 and with the fuel intake opening 93. The gas discharge passage 94'leads to the upper end of the fixing chamber and carbureter 95. The oil pipe 96, controlled by valve 97, also enters the upper end of this fixing chamber. The lower end of the fixing chamber is connected by passage 98 with the waste heat boiler 99. The upper end of the waste heat boiler 99 is connected by passage 100 with the wash box 101. From the wash box the gas discharge passage 102, controlled by valve 103, leads to any suitable gas using or gas holding apparatus.

In the o eration of the form of apparatus shown in igures 1 to 4, the gas to be enriched is led from the blast furnace or other source through passa e 11 and thence through passage 12, valve 14 being open, to the stack 16 of the regenerator 18 and down through the regenerator. During this period, the passage 13 is closed off by means of valve 15. From the regenerator 18, the heated gas passes through passage 22 to passage 24 and thence through uptake 25 and discharges under the mushroom head 26 into the lower end of the gas unit 27.

At the same time, avportion of the gas passes from passage 22 into passage 23 where it meets a stream of air introduced through passage 52-with which it burns. The combined stream passes up through the regenerator 19 and the roducts of combustion pass out the stack. he amount of gas entering this regenerator is controlled by means of the stack draft. It will be understood that the processes going on in the two regenerators will be periodically reversed when the regenerator giving up its heat to the gases is cooled down and the regenerator being heated has reached the desired temperature. When reversing the operation, steam may be introduced through passage 49 to clear the regenerator 18 of gas before the mixed air and gas are burned therein. The regenerator 19 issimilarly blown out by steam introduced through passage 53.

The gas introduced intothe gas unit under the mushroom head is at a relatively high temperature due to the fact that it may be led from the blast furnace, lime kiln, ore reducing. furnace or other furnace producing gas high in 002 while hot and its temperature is also increased in the regenerator. As the gas is introduced under the mushroom head, air, steam, or water, or-any combina-- .ion thereof, is introduced through 28 into the head, the air serving to cool the head and also to burn with the gas and the fuel in .the lower part of the unit. This combustion temperature in this lower zone will vary from approximately twenty-two hundred degrees Fahrenheit adjacent the combustion zone if the temperature of that zone is held that high .lown to approximatelythe temperature ofthe dincoming gases adjacentthe mushroom hea 7 The gas with its-CO5 content partly re duced to COthen rises through the fuel into .he zone between and above the tuyeres 42 which is the zone of maximum heat and combustion. The temperature in this zone may be approximately twenty-two hundred degrees Fahrenheit, although it is not neces sary that such a high temperature be maintained. The-tuyeres-are' used for the introduction of steam or air or steam and air alternately, the air serving-by combustion to raise the temperature of the fuel, which at the time it reaches'this point has been reduced to coke, and the stea'm serving to generate water gas by its action upon theincandescent coke.

As the gastobe enriched passes throu h this zone,.it is at a high temperature and t e fuel is also at a high temperature so that the desired reduction of the CO to CO is completed. As the heated gas, now enriched by the reduction of its CO and also, when steam s used, by the addition ofwater s, rises through the coal in the upper part o lihe generator, thereby carbonizing and distilling the coal therein.. The raw coal in the upper portion-"of the generator is thus reduced to coke by the action of the heated gases and the gas is enriched by the coal gas. An important feature of this method of operation lies in the fact that the coal as and volatiles from the coal are not carrie through the hottest zones with the resultant cracking and lowering of B. t. u. value per. cubic foot.

Thestirrer in the top of the gas unit is an.-

important feature, particularly when" bituminous coal is-used as a fuel as it prevents the "aking of the fuel bed and keeps it open for the free passage of the gases. The gases thus pass substantially uniformly through the mass and thus reduces it uniformly to coke.

'Fromthe gas unit the enriched gases pass out to the waste heat boiler 62 and economizer '63 which serve to recover a large portion 6f top of the ca the sensible heat of the gases. The gas is then led through passage 64:.to any desired gas holding or using apparatus.

The water-cooled metal stave construction of the lower part of the gas unit shown in Figure 1 serves to preserve the lines of the unit. Also the water-cooled construction prevents the adhesion of side wall clinkers, and the angle at the lower edge of the cylindrical portion 40 causes thematerial to tend to drop from this edge rather than to mass on the sides andv follow down as side wall clinkers.

The alternative construction shown in Figure 4 is shown as having substantially the same interior lines. In this construction the wall is formed of fire brick and the linesare preserved by the insertion of water-cooled bosh plates, the offset in the side wall having the same eifect as above described in connection with the other form. y

The form of installation shown in Figures 5 to 8 is operated in a manner similar to that just described. The gas containing carbon dioxide which is to be enriched is led from the gas source through passage to passage71 and thence into' the .regenerator 69. Valves 73, 74 and 79 are open and valves. 77 and 7 5v are closed. The air valve 84 is open and valve 8 5 closed.

The gases pass upwardithrough the checkerwork in the right-han half of the regenerator wherein theyare'heated. The major portion of the gas passes throu h uptake 87 and into the gas unlt 68 under t e mushroom head 88. r

A portion of the/gas passes over the top of the wall 80where it meets lair introduced through the plurality 'ofpassages 81. The

air and gas burn as they pass down through the checkers in the lefthalf of the regenerator and then pass out through passage 72 and out through stack 78. The amount of this flow is controlled by means of the control of the draft in the stack.

The operation of the gas unit in the form of installation is exactly similar to that of the gas unit in the installationshown in Figures 1 to 4 and previously described. The enrichcd gases ass through passage 94 to the uretter 95. Here they may be further enriched b the introduction of oil through pipe 96, va ve 97 being opened. 1

From the bottom of the carburetter 95 the gases pass through the waste heat boiler 99 where they give up some of their heat and from the boiler they go to the wash box 101. From the wash box the gases are led off through passa e 102, valve 103 being opened, to any suita 1e gas using or holding apparatus.

It will be understood that the regenerator 69 will be reversed in use. jWhen the right hand checkerwork has. been cooled down. and

the left-hand checkerwork su flicientlyheatedof the unit are under control.

the valves 74, 79 and 84 will be closed and valves 75, 77 and 86 opened. The gas is then heated in the left half of the regenerator and a portion is burned with air from the air header 85 to heat the right-hand side of the checkerwork.

It will be observed that the present method of operation of the gas units results in complete control both of the enrichment of the gas and the gasification of the fuel in the unit. The amount of air introduced under the mushroom head may be varied and also the proportions of air or steam through the tuyres. Thus the temperatures in both zones Also the amount of water gas generated may be controlled by the. proportioning of the steam admitted.

An important feature of the two-zone method of operation lies in the fact that the lower zone may be maintained at a temperature which will not be sufficiently high to cause the agglomeration of the ash particles into objectionable clinker, this temperature varying with the fusing point of the ash of the particular fuel used.

If desired, the unit may be operated Withoutreducing the fuel to ash and coke may be withdrawn at the lower end of the unit.

The unit is also adapted for use independently as a gas producer or as a gas generaa zone of coke and ash at a'high temperature, next through a zone of coke at a higher temperature, and then throu h a zone of bituminous coal, the passage 0 the gas serving to distill and to coke the coal in said last zone and thereby enrich the heating gas with the distillation products, and agitating the lastnamed fuel zone during the passage of the as. g 2. The process of raising the calorific value of a gas containing a. considerable portion of carbon dioxide, which consists; in passing the gas through a zone of partly consumed coke at a'high temperature, next through a zone of coke at a higher temperature, introducing air and steam alternately directly in said latter zone, and then passing the. gas

through a zone of substantially raw bitumi-' nous coal and thereby distilling and coking the coal and enrichin the mixed gases with the products of distlllation, and agitating said coal during the passagp of the gas.

Signed at Philadelphia, ennsylvania, this 19th day of November, 1923.

CHARLES W. ANDREWS.

tor. If operated to produce water gas, air

and steam will be introduced intermittently in alternation as is customary in water gas practice. The steam would be admitted through the tuyeres and the air through both or either the tuyeres and mushroom head as desired. If used as a gas producer, both steam and air mixed may be introduced through both the mushroomhead and the tuyeres or either.

In any of the above described methods of operation, steam may be introduced through the regenerators. In this method, steam may or not also be introduced through the tuyeres.

The process in the gas unit may be intermittent and a part or all of the blast gas formed by blowing air into the unit through a the bustle pipe may be passed downwardly through the regenerator. This method would be especially valuable where the unit is used as an independent gas generator or producer. It will be obvious to those skilled in the art to which the invention relates that modifications ma be made in details of procedure without eparting from the spirit of the invention which is not limited as to those matters or otherwise than as the "prior art and the appended claims may require.

I claim 1 The process of raising the calorific value of a hot gas containing a considerable proiportion of carbon dioxide, which consists; in superheating the gas by passing through a regenerator, then passing the hot gas through 

